Photoflash lamp



Aug. 27, 1957 P. GREGER PHOTOFLASH LAMP 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 8,1953 l .lill/Affli- /ERNEYJ Aug. 27, 1957 P. GREGER PHOTOFLASH LAMP 3Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVF/VM Filed Dec. 8, 1953 Aug. 27, 1957 P. GREGERPHOTOF'LASH LAMP I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1953 r N w. w

United States Patent PHoToFLAsrr LAMP i Paul Greger, Braunschweig,Germany, assignor to Voigtlander, A. G., Braunschweig, Germany, acorporation of Germany l This invention relates to photoash lamp devicesand it has particular relation to photoash lamp devices in which ashbulbs of varying dimensions can be used.

Various types of photoash lamp devices provided with means for ejectingthe flash bulb have been known previously and devices in which flashbulbs of varying sizes can be inserted in the same reflector, have alsobeen known.

The main object of the present invention consists in providing aphotollash lamp device which comprises means for ejecting the flash bulband comprises only one socket, but nevertheless permits the use of flashbulbs of varying sizes.

According to the present invention, this object is at tained byproviding the lamp socket with two or` more` detents, arranged onebehind the other in suitable distances from the focal point of thereflector in such manner that, upon insertion of the various bulbs inthe device, the individual bulbs are held by the socket in.

positions, in which their center of illumination coincides with thefocal point of the reflector. Flash bulbs which case, detent teeth areprovided on a spring biased ejector lever which, upon insertion of abulb against the action of an ejecting spring, recedes from the socketand subsequently comes to rest with one of its teeth behind theretaining pins of the lamp base, said ejecting spring simultaneously andpreferably forming the electrical bottom Contact.

After release of the ejector lever and the that the ash bulb can beinserted in the socket indeare provided with one or two holding orretaining pins Y pendently, or approximately independently, from therotary position of its retaining pins.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in the use ofpositively acting detents and of an ejector lever, means for permanentlyand automatically keeping the surface of the middle contact in polishedcondition.

VIt is also an object of the invention to use a particular currentconducting arrangement over the joint of the ejector lever, whereby anelbow spring serves for conducting the current.

In the appended drawings, which illustrate by way of example someembodiments of the invention, to which the invention is not limited:

4Figurel illustrates a photoash lamp device showing the features of thepresent invention, in sectional view;

Figure 2 is the front view of the photoiiash lamp device, some parts ofwhich are shown in section;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure l, thesection being taken along line III-Ill in Figure l;

Figure 4 illustrates an ejector socket with a unilaterally,longitudinally slotted sleeve and an ejector lever;

Figure 5,illustrates an ejector socket with a sleeve longitudinallydivided at its front end and a detent acting in all directions;

Figure 6 illustrates, in longitudinal sectional View, a photoash lampsocket with an ejector spring and two detents acting by their design;

Figure 47 is a front view of the flash lamp socket shown in Figure 6;

vFigure 8 shows' the base of a iiash bulb in side View, said base beingprovided with two retaining pins;

Figure 9 illustrates an ejector socket having a unlaterallyk slottedsleeve and three locking positions, and Figure 10 illustrates, inlongitudinal sectional View, a photoashlamp socket with an ejectorspring and three detents acting by their design.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in the embodiment shown inFigure 1, lamp socket 1 has a closed `form which is of substantiallyhorseshoe-shaped crosssection in this case. Laterally arranged, bent outgrooves 3 of lamp socket 1, which according to a preferred embodiment,extend in straight line and parallel to axis 2 of the lamp socket, allowthe insertion of retaining pins resulting release of the retaining pinsof the bulb base, Y

the bulb is ejected from the socket by the ejector spring.

In another advantageous ejector device suitable for the presentinvention, positively acting detents of the type shown in U. S. PatentNo. 2,384,327 issued on September 4, 1945', are used.

Such positively acting detents are preferably formed by constricting orcoil springs which are peripherally arranged around the lamp socket andenter the interior of the lamp socket through slots, which are locatedin the range of bent out grooves of the lamp socket. The eff feet ofsuch springs consists in that the springs are first pressed outward bythe retaining pins of the iiash lamp inserted in the device andsubsequently are located in front of said retaining pins as positivelyacting detents.

4 of iiash bulb 5, which serve as guide means and for support. Lampsocket 1 is electrically conductive at least on its inner surface and isconnected with one terminal of a current source.

v On the outside and around la-mp socket 1, constricting or coil springs6 are arranged at two levels, which correspond to two different insertedpositions of iiash bulbs andsaid springs prevent the inserted flash bulbfrom sliding out from the socket, by their lying in the ejection path ofthe ash bulb in front of its retaining pins. In order to attain thiseffect, lamp socket 1 is provided at the place of the before mentionedbent out grooves 3, with slots 7, so that springs 6 can enter theinterior of the space enclosed by socket 1. In order to enable retainingpins 4 of a ash bulb to press backward springs 6 The ejecting means usedin carrying out the present inthese detent recesses can have a ringshaped design,iso

upon insertion of the bulb into the socket, the diameter of theconvolutions of springs 6 is of such dimension relative to the activelength of the retaining pins that an operative wedge or key drive in thedirection of insertion results, in which the key wedge is formed mainlyby the rounding of the springs. For the same reason, in view of suitabledimensions of slots 7, springs 6 enter the space enclosed by the lampsocket only up to about the half of the diameter of the convolutions.

In lorder to obtain good electric contact between the Ibase of the ashbulb and lamp socket 1, the larnp socket Patented Aug. 27, 1957is-providedwith slots8- which are staggered relative to slots 7ypreferably 4by a right angle andsprings 6-enterthe space in the interiorof the lamp socket through said slots 8 likewise only up to about thehalf of the spring diameter. -In order to prevent displacement ofsprings 6 at these places, the lamp socket is provided here too with anoutwardly extending-.longitudinalcrease 9i Thus, upon insertion'V of aflash bulb into'the lamp'socket, for example edge 10 of the flash bulbbase forces springs 6 which protrude through slotsS, inoutwarddirection.The tension of springs 6 resulting on this side, presses the base of theflash bulb in direction 11 toward the opposite interior side lof thelamp socketI andE produces there electrical contact 12' between theflash-bulb base andthe lamp socket. f -f -In carrying out the presentinvention', -springs 6' can be made of any suitable material,for examplealso of` electrically non-conductingmaterial. A

The lamp socket extends in downward-directionand1 is. in fixedconnection with an electrically'noneconducting, fork-shaped supportingor bearing element' 133;, iny

-the forked part of whicha bolt 14` is iixedlyinserted perpendicularlyto, andata latera-ldistance a, from, axis 2 of the flash bulb `(see Fig.3).' Said distance a is, determined* byithe'possibility of convenientlyoperating the ejecting mechanism.. An 4ejector lever 15 ifsi arrangedlon Iand capable of swingingabout said'bolt 14. @ne leg of this lever 15,which is freely accessiblefrom theout` side, forms- 'a `key or' handle'16 which ismovable in radial direction to'axis 2, while the otherleg'lflf otsaidl lever is bent in such manner that its part 1 8,- whichis designed asa contact member, remains in contact' with the middlecontactofl the flaslibulb insertedfin the socket during the entire .pathof its-swinging.

A secondposition of ejector lever'15fis^shown-inFig ure 1 in dottedline. In the forked recess of member 13, aftorsional spring 19 isappliedAvto` 'bolt-14; One end 21 of said spring 19frwhich isconnected withcurrent4 supply cable 20, is supported byfedge 22v ofY member'13, Whilethe other end 23 ofl'spring 19 bears against the electricallyconductinginterior surfaceV 18l of leg 17 of lever and forms'anelectrical contacttherewith. The

effect of torsional `spring 19 isdeterminedin such manner that thisspring provides, on the one hand, for safe contact between part` 18`v oflever 15.and` the middle contact of the flash-'bulb inserted in the lampsocket, while,

on. the other hand, the effect of this spring by itself'isv of thesleeve in order to prevent the bulbs from being;

inserted too far. v

In inserting a flash bulb into a lamp holder, the flash ibulb is guidedin such a manner that the retaining pins 4 (see Fig. 1)- 'arranged onthe base party ofV the flash bulb, enter the wedge-shaped stampedportions 36. If,

tlie flash -bulb is then inserted in the lamp holder, the two flaps 32and.33 of the `lamp-holder'y exert their spring effect. The lowerfrontal surface of the flash bulb comes in contact with yarm 3.0 of theejector lever 29, which projects into the insertion path of the llashbulb, already |before the retaining pins 4A enter the first detentnotches 34, and starts'to cause swinging of the ejector lever 29 aboutits pivot. Thereby, the free arm of ejector lever 29, whichY projectsfrom the lamp holder, withdraws from insulating part 28; The swinging ofthe ejector lever 29 is more or less extensive, depending on at which ofthe detent notches 34 the inserting movement is terminated; In order toeject a flashV bulb from the lamp holder, the' swung-out -free arm ofthe ejector lever 29 is yactuated in such a manner that its arm 30,which extends `below the flash bulb, exerts pressure on the lamp base.Thereby, retaining pins 4 are removed from the vdetent notches34. Whenthe ejector lever`29 has been moved upto the position shown in Fig. 4,arm 30`of ejector lever 29 will have caused removal of the flash bulbfrom tlielamp holder to' such `an extent that the retaining pins 4'arranged' on the lamp base will be locatedin the wedgeeshapedstarnpedportions 36. The flash bulb will bethen in a position in' which it canbe easily removed from the." lamp holder, or falls from it by itself ifthe not capa-bleef ejecting an inserted flash -bulb against the effectofspring 6 located in -fr-ont of retainingpins 4;

Upon insertion of a flash bulb 5 in socket 1', the suitably bent contactpart 18-of ejectorl lever 15A is-v displaced at a suitable position oflever V15, to-a small extent relative to the middle contacty of the bulband'perpendicu;

larly to axis 2, whereby a certain polishingeffect and' bright conditionof this contact automatically result. VTn order to increase this effect,contact part- 1,8l canbe made iile-like on itssurface turned towardthemiddlev contact of the bulb. The same result can be obtained'v by adrilling movement ofthe middle contact of va flash bulb relative to saidcontact part, for example Iby formingbent out grooves 3 not in straightline, but entirely or partially 'as a helical groove. f

Ejection of the 'inserted flash bulb isbrought about by applyingpressure to member 16 of leverl 15 in'thejdirec tion of arrow 24, inorder to overcome the locking or arresting effect of springs 6.

The'. lamp socket proper is connected with reflector 25 tbyka commonsupporting member 26.

Figure 4i illustrates a lamp' socket 27, in which an' ejector lever- 29'is pivotally arranged in insulating mem'- ber 28. Arm 30` of lever 29projectsr through opening 31 into the interior' of the lamp socket. Thelatter has the form of la sleeve, slit at one side, wherebythe two flaps32 and 33 of the socket are rendered capable of a spring effect andofholding the retaining p inssofanin:

, can be elastically moved apart.

flashVV lamp device isr held in `a corresponding position.

IIn` the`device shown in Fig. 4'-in a manner similar to that describedin connection with Figs. 1, 2, and'q'- lamp'socket 27 is electricallyconnectedby means of a cafble with one.- pole of the electric source. Asecond cableconnected with the other pole of the electriccurrent'source, is connected in a manner similar to that described inthe preceding. example, to theejector lever 2.9,",which` is electricallyinsulatedfrom the lamp socket 27 means'oaninsulating member 28. A flashbulb Sinserted' in the lamp socket lies lwith its lower bottom contactagainstthev ejector lever 29. The retaining'pins 4 seated on the base ofthe Hash 'bulb are in contactl with the interior surfaces of thedetent'notches 34. In this manner an' electrical connection betweentliecurrentv source and the flash bulb 5 is brought about. Figure 5showsv a sleeve 37, which likewise carries an ejector lever29 pivotallyarranged on insulating member 28. One arm 30 of lever. 29 projects intothe interior' 31 of sleeve `37 of the lamp socket Iand engages therethe` insertedvflash bulb from below. Sleeve 37`is slotted' from 'above'on two opposite sides, so that its upper lportion is formed `by twohalves 38 and 39, which In the range of its flaps, sleeve 37has' twocreases 40 of sernicireular shape, arranged one above the other, intowhich retaining pins of' an insertedflashbulb can enter. An edge portion41 of' the flaps, which extendsoutwardly conically over the' entireperiphery, causes the flaps to move elastically apart, upon yinsertionof a' flash bulb. The structure of this device has the advantage that aflash bulb lever arm 30, whichprojectsinto the path of insertom,

Above or in front of saidy already before the retaining pins 4 (seeFig. 1) provided on the base of the flash bulb, enter the first crease40V erated in such a manner that ejector lever arm 30, which extendsunder the flash bulb, exerts pressure on the bottom surface of ltheflash bulb and causes removal of the latter from the lamp holder. v

In Fig. 5, the Sleeve 38 is again connected with one pole fof thecurrent source, while the other pole of the current source is inelectrical contact with ejector lever.

29, which is insulated from sleeve 38 by an electrically insulatingmember 28. Thus, a flash bulb inserted in sleeve 38 `will be inelectrical contact with the current source through the bottom contact offla-sh bulb 5 which contacts ejector lever 29 and the retaining pins 4of flash bulb S, which lie against the interior, wall of thesemi-circular crease 46. Y

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a lamp socket having two detent positions forflash bulbs of different sizes, in longitudinal section and in -frontView, respectively, said socket being provided with detents and anejector spring.

iln the embodiment 'shown in these figures, the bottom of socket 42consists of an insulating member 43, in which an ejector pin 44 isdisplaceably arranged and urged to advanced position by spring 45. Thisspring is designed and dimensioned in such manner that it serves as Y anejector spring, and, by electrical connection with one electricalterminal and in combination with ejector p'in 44, it servessimultaneously also as an electrical Vbottom contact. Sleeve 42 isprovided at two oppositely arranged point-s with slots 46 for guidingthe retaining pins 4 of flash bulb 5. An ejector lever '49 ispivotallyarranged at 48 on sleeve 42. One arm 47 of lever 49 is provided with twosaw teeth 50, which constitute detents acting by their design, :andproject through one of said slots 46 into the interior of sleeve 42.Inward movement of said `arm 47 is limited by stop bolt 51, by which theejector lever 49, which is under the effect `of spring 52. abuts at theouter Wall of the -sleeve when the socket is empty. Thereby, saw teeth50 of lever armv 47 point with their inclined surface upward, whiletheir other, inner edge is directed perpendicularly to the longitudinalaxis of sleeve 42.

Upon insertion of retaining pins 4 of a flash bulb 5 into longitudinalslots 46 of sleeve 42, one of the retaining pins 4 passes over theinclined sur-face of lirst saw tooth 50 `of ejector lever 49 and pressessaid tooth backward, whereupon said tooth comes to lie with its radiallyextending edge in 1front of `one of retaining pins 4. lt -is within thescope of the present invention to arrange a second, similar ejectorlever on the other side of the sleeve.

A larger ash bulb is inserted in sleeve 42 further, i. e. until itreaches, and is locked by the second saw tooth, in a manner similar 4tothat described above. After releasing members 50 by pressing ejectorlever 49 in the direction of arrow 53, the inserted bulb is ejected byejector pin 44 from the socket, under action of spring 45.

yIn connection with Figs. 6 and 7, it will be understood from the abovethat the ejector pin 44 arranged in insulating member 43 and thus alsothe bottom contact of a flash bulb S inserted in the device, is inelectrical contact with one pole of the current source. The other poleof the current source is connected with sleeve 42. Thereby the lockinglever is supplied with current and provides, over its saw teeth 50,electrical connection with the retaining pins 4 of the base of flashbulb 5. Simultaneously, locking lever 49 urges the base of flash bulb 5against the interior wall opposite thereto, of' sleeve 42, so that heretoo electrical connection between ash bulb 5 'and sleeve 42 is broughtabout.

Figure 8 illustrates the base of a flash bulb, adaptedi to be used inv alamp socket .according to the present invention. Said base is providedwith two retaining elements 4, which consist, for example, of pins, butmay also be studs which are stamped Vfrom the sleeve forming the base.

Figure -9 illustrates a lamp socket, the structure ofwhich is generallysimilar to that shown in Figure 4,

but differs from the latter by the presence of three detents 54, whichenable the socket to be used for receiving and holding bulbs of threedifferent sizes. The other reference symbols in Figure 9 have the samemeaning as in Fig. 4;

f IInsertion and ejection of a flash bulb takes place substantially inthe same manner as already described above in connection with Fig. 4. Asin this case, in contrast`V to the lamp holder shown in Fig. 4, threedetents 54, arranged one after the other, are provided, the free ejectorlever arm, which projects from the lamp holder,

will continue swinging only when a flash bulb is inserted in the lampholder to such an extent that its `retaining pins entei the lowest ofthe three detents 54.

`ln the vdevice lshown in Fig. 9, the electrical connection -between aflash bulb 5 inserted in the lamp socket and the current sourcecorresponds to the arrangement described in connection with Fig. 4. Onepole of the current, source is thereby connected to the ejector lever29, while the lamp socket 27 is connected to the other pole ofthecurrent source.

The lamp socket illustrated in Fig. l0 is generally similar to thesocket shown in Figure 6. However, in combination with the socket shownin Figure 10, two

ejector levers 55, 55 are arranged in diametrically op-V positepositions. `Each of these ejector levers is provided vwith three sawteeth 56, which lact as detents, so that the socket shown in Fig. l0 canbe used for tlash bulbs of three different sizes. The two ejector levers55 can be4 operatedgto release the saw teeth by pressure simultaneouslyapplied in the direction of both arrows 57. The use of two ejectorlevers prevents canting of the flash bulb in its locked position. bolsin Figure l0, have the same meaning las in Figure 6.

`In the device illustrated in Fig. l0, the electrical connection betweena flash bulb 5 inserted in the lamp socket and thecurrent source,corresponds to the arrangement described above in connection with Figs.6 and 7. Thereby, the ejector pin 44 is -connected with one pole of thecurrent source while the other pole of the current source iselectrically connected to sleeve 42, whereby the two locking levers 52,which are in contact with retaining pins 4 of ash bulb 5, likewisereceive current. Between these two part-s there Will be electricalconnection at any point, at which the lamp base and the sleeve 42 are incontact with each other.

IIt will be understood from the above that this invention is not limitedto the specific designs, constructions, steps and other detailsspecifically described above and can be carried out with variousmodifications without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A photographic photoflash device for receiving flash bulbs having abase member with a plain surface provided with retaining pins, andhaving two electric contacts, one of the contacts including the basemember and the other contact being disposed at the bottom of the basemember and insulated therefrom, said photoash device comprising 'asocket for the base member of a Hash bulb, a reflector forming astructural unit with Said socket, said socket having at least two detentmeans for retaining ash bulbs inserted into said socket, said detentmeans being arranged at varying depths, one below the other in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of said socket, only one of saidmeans being adapted at a time to engage the retaining pins provided outhe base of a,

The other reference sym-V ashfhulb inserted to corresponding depthsintheA socket,

conductbrsiadaptedztorbe connected to a. source of.7 electric energy, a'spring Vbiased member electrically insu-Y` latedfrom said'. socket andelectrically.'connectedtoonc ofi said; conductors,A said spring` biasedmember engaging' the: lower contact of` an inserted` flashbulb, meansfor` connecting: thefother of said conductors 'lwith f saidv socket'which is in electric contact with thebase of the inserted flash bulbIandI ther retaining pins; andimeans for ejecting anuinsertedlash bulb,said; springbiased memberI form-j ingtaipart 'of said,l ejectormeans.

2 The. combination in accordance with claim 1, fur

therfcomprising a pairi off longitudinallyextending. slots forslidably'receiving theretaining pins offthevash bulb,

said'detent. meanscomprising a plurality'of furtherslots extending.circumferentially aboutsaidf socketand intersecting said pain of slots,and helicall spring means positionedfin` each of saidifurtherV slots andextending into said socketi a` sufficient distance to intercept the pinson aash bulb,

33 The combination inaccordance with-claim-Z; wherein said. helicallspringV means extendY into' said socket a distance approximately. equalVtotheir radii.

4. The combination in accordancewith claim 2; wherein'saidejector meanscomprises a-lever having a first-arm extendingintosaid socket and"asecond'v arm disposed' exteriorly ofi said socket, means for pivotinglsaid lever about' adams-.perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of saidsocket, means Vfor insulating said lever`- from said socket,'rsaid leverbeing spring biasedfso vthat saidist arm constitutesasaid'springbiasedmember. f

5'. The 4combination in accordance'with claim 1, where in said socketVconstitutes twoV hollow-semi-cylindrical members, meansfor resilientlybiasing said members one toward` the other, andY wherein said detentmeans each includes-'a radially enlarged, circumferentially extendingexteriorly of said socket,rmeansfon pivoting.r said' lever aboutcarraxis;perpendicular to the-.longitudinallv axis of saidl'socket,. meansfor insulatingsaidT lever fromsaid` socken. .saidt lever. .being spring.biasedl so4 thatA said first-v armiconstitutes f said spring biasedmember..

7; Thecombination.inaccordance withiclaimv 1, where-- intsaid,socketllrasf a longitudinal' slot extending at least tofthedepthv off'all fof' said detent means, said detent means: comprising.longitudinally extending corrugations aligned with the pins of the-baseof a tl'ashv bulb to=be 9; rIlhecombinationdnaccordance with claim 8,-where in. said ejector means comprises` a' lever having, a first armextending into: said socket and ay second arm dis-- posedlexteriorly. ofsaid-r socket, means for' pivoting said lever about an axisperpendicular to the longitudinall axis of saidsocketg-means.forinsulatingsaid lever from said socket; said. lever being springbiasedl so thatv said firstv arm constitutes said springbiased member.

l0. 'Phe combination in accordance with claim l whereinl said. socketcomprises longitudinally extending slotsalignedwith the pins on1a ashbulb to be-inserted therein,.at" least onelever aligned with one of theslots, springmeans'vrfor'urgingsaid lever into said slots, said'detentfmeans comprising asaw-tooth surface on said'lever',saidsawtoothsurf'ace extending into saidlsocketthrough saidf slots` andhaving at least twok outwardlyl and upwardly. extending portionsterminating at their lower edges in radiallyextendingsurfaces.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS1,418,302 Guih June 6, 1922v 2,050,085.V Cherniak Aug. 4 1936 2,293,660VV'Nicholas: Aug. 18, 1942 2,384,327 Mendelsohn Sept. 4, 1945 2,578,296-y.Ernisse Dec. 11, 1951 2,703,869 Haraden Mar. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS936,649 France July 26', 1948

